MLBits: Still No Deals for Keuchel/Kimbrel, Giants President Suspended, Award Winners, Mets, Padres, More

Mar 26, 2019

There is only ONE MORE Spring Training game before the start of the regular season. We are almost there.

Here’s some news from around the league …

Although the free agent deals for Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, along with the long list of star-player extensions has squashed some of the bad vibes league-wide, it’s important to remember a very simple, very unusual fact:

https://twitter.com/jwyllys/status/1110542589319614464

Craig Kimbrel Dallas Keuchel are both tied to draft pick compensation – and could wait to sign until June to rid themselves of that complication – but I just can’t see that being the reason they’re not signed right now. Somebody is going to get them … right? Remember, Greg Holland signed with the Cardinals the night before the regular season last year. (Of course, that sure didn’t work out well for Holland and the Cardinals.)

I still think the Cubs would be wise to stretch any dollar they could to get Kimbrel – if he’s willing to take a short-term/pillow contract – even if Pedro Strop is healthy and rocking. It’s probably just not going to happen, but it would make me feel so much better about this team, and would also keep him away from the Brewers. And, of course, it’s important to preserve some flexibility to address the needs of the team mid-season, but considering how often the Cubs use that flexibility to add a reliever … well, it’s not crazy to say just do it now. Doing it now might cost more dollars, but it costs less in prospects *and* you get a full season of production, versus half-a-year.

The Mets are a lightening rod of unusual, combative situations with players. The latest? A standoff between the team and catcher Devin Mesoraco, a non-roster invitee who appears to have been promised a path to the Majors if Travis d’Arnaud proved unready for Opening Day, which he is. Instead of giving Mesoraco the big league job, however, the Mets assigned him to Triple-A, where he does not intend to report.

And now, because of that, the Mets are putting him on the restricted list, so as not to “set a precedent.”

Mets are putting Devin Mesoraco on the restricted list. He declined to go to minors. Mets must feel like if they released him, as he’d prefer, there’s some chance he could catch on elsewhere. They say they don’t want to set precedent. @AnthonyDiComo and others are on top of this.
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) March 25, 2019

From the sound of it, though, Mesoraco is threatening to retire and this is all just a big mess, like everything the Mets touch. They should probably just release him – especially if they’re really close to a deal for backup catcher (and former Cub) Rene Rivera – and let him sign elsewhere.

Remember that video of Giants President and CEO Larry Baer in a physical altercation with his wife? He was just suspended a long time for it:

MLB announces Giants President and CEO Larry Baer has been suspended without pay through July 1. He will have no involvement of operation of the club and an interim control person will be appointed. Full release: pic.twitter.com/Adij1RnU5J
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) March 26, 2019

Chris Paddack is the San Diego Padres’ 5th best prospect, which makes him the 34th best prospect in baseball, overall according to MLB Pipeline. And yesterday, he made his last Spring Training start of the year. But this start was an unusual one. After getting 49 pitches into a 75-pitch planned outing, Manager Andy Green came out to the mound to take Paddack out of the game. As the infield converged on the mound, Green asked first baseman Eric Hosmer if he had any plans on Sunday. Hosmer responded “Playing behind this guy.” Paddack found out he made the team and would be starting for the Padres this weekend like that – on the field, with his teammates, as a surprise. THAT.IS.SO.COOL.

Here’s the moment:

Start your morning off on a good note. Here's the moment (presumably) that Chris Paddack found out he made the @Padres #OpeningDay roster.

(📹: @LanceBroz)pic.twitter.com/hHcxmIbJrj

— Cut4 (@Cut4) March 26, 2019

MLB.com took their best guess at predicting the 2019 AL and NL MVP, Cy Young, Rookie, and Manager of the Year awards and did a mostly good job. I think there’s no reason to doubt that Mike Trout is the MVP front runner in the American League and it’s hard to argue that Nolan Arenado isn’t one of the premier candidates in the NL. But I think it’s going to look pretty silly to have Kris Bryant out of the conversation – almost entirely – and so far down the list. If he’s healthy, he is going to be in the mix. I did think including Kyle Hendricks in the “also receiving votes” for NL Cy Young was a nice touch, though. Ditto Joe Maddon with Manger of the Year.

Ryan Braun … eye roll:

The #Brewers will be without Ryan Braun for the two games in Montreal against the Blue Jays. Sounds like he thought he had his passport with him but turns out he didn't. So, couldn't come to Canada.
— Tom (@Haudricourt) March 25, 2019

I have always loved the guys behind “Cespedes Family BBQ” and now, we’ll get even more of them. This year, Jake Mintz and Jordan Shusterman will host an MLB highlight show for the streaming service DAZN, which recently agreed to a rights deal with MLB.

Another way to look at the many extensions by division:

Recent contract extensions by division:

AL West:
HOU: Bregman, Verlander
LAA: Trout

AL Central:
CHW Sox: Jimenez
MNT: Kepler, Polanco

AL EAST:
NYY: Severino
Red Sox: Sale
TBR: Snell

NL West:
COL: Arenado

NL Central:
StL: Goldschmidt, Mikolas

NL East:
Phi: Nola
NYM: deGrom

— Michael Cerami (@Michael_Cerami) March 26, 2019

I couldn’t fit any more extensions into that post, but it’s worth pointing out that it’s missing at least Aaron Hicks and his seven-year, $70M deal. Who else (notable) got one this winter? It’s tough to keep up.

Reds top prospect Nick Senzel (#6 overall in MLB) left yesterday’s Minor League game with a right ankle sprain. He’ll be in a boot for 1-2 weeks, but will certainly need some time to heal and get back up to game speed after that. And speaking as someone who’s sprained both of their ankles … those injuries come back, man. You might think the Reds are bummed about this – I’m sure they are – but they did just get a great excuse to hold him down until they’ve secured an extra year of cost control, even after the injury to Scooter Gennett. Senzel, 23, slashed .310/.378/.509 in his first trip to Triple-A last season.

written by

Michael Cerami

Michael Cerami began covering the Chicago Cubs for Bleacher Nation as a part-time contributor in 2015. One year later, he joined Bleacher Nation full-time, covering the Chicago Cubs and Major League Baseball. Today, Michael runs Bleacher Nation, contributing as a writer (Cubs, MLB) and an editor for all sections of the site, including the Chicago Bears, Bulls, and Blackhawks, as well as MLB, NBA, NHL, and NFL. In 2019, Michael was the co-host of NBC Sports Chicago's Cubs Post-Game Show Outside the Ivy. You can find him on Twitter/X @Michael_Cerami

more cubs news

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner Out

CUBS LINEUP — Well ... the Cubs "easy" stretch in the schedule is not quite going how I envisioned. But they still have three games in Cincinnati to make up some ground. Here's a look at the Cubs lineup for...

Michael Cerami

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Moves: Wicks Returns, Hodge to Iowa

Today the Chicago Cubs activated lefty Jordan Wicks from the Injured List (forearm), and sent reliever Porter Hodge to Triple-A Iowa. What's interesting about the timing here is that Jordan Wicks is not starting tonight. And he's not scheduled to...

Brett Taylor

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

MLBits: Elly’s Anniversary Blast, In the Weeds with Bat Tracking Data, Comparing Judge-Soto to Greats of the Past, More

MLB Notes — On the one-year anniversary of his Major League debut, Elly De La Cruz ripped a three-run home run that erased a 2-0 deficit for Cincinnati, who went on to beat the Cubs 8-4 on Thursday at Great...

Patrick K. Flowers

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Farm Report | June 7, 2024: Jaxon Wiggins’ Strong Debut Leads Pelicans to Victory

CUBS PROSPECTS — Cubs second-rounder Jaxon Wiggins made his Myrtle Beach Pelicans debut on Thursday and looked excellent, as the Pelicans earned the only win for the Cubs down on the farm yesterday. That and more in today's Cubs Farm...

Patrick K. Flowers

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Attached to a Top Prospect in the 2025 International Class

The 2024 Dominican Summer League kicked off this week, which means many of the top prospects from the 2024 International Free Agent class are beginning their professional careers (including top Chicago Cubs signing Fernando Cruz). It's good timing, then, to...

Brett Taylor

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

A Bit of Fun (Because We Need It), Amaya’s Development, Hodge’s Night, Edwards, Swanson, and Other Cubs Bullets

Surprise: the White Sox series did not magically fix all that ails the Cubs. They will have to fundamentally improve over a much, much, much longer trajectory for us to feel any kind of confidence that they can actually get...

Brett Taylor

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

An Early Lead? Wha? Seiya Suzuki With the Two-Run Shot

Maybe it's just my damaged heart, but it feels like weeks since the Cubs took an early, multi-run lead in a game. Thank you, Miguel Amaya for the third inning single, and thank you, Seiya Suzuki for the following homer:

Brett Taylor

Jun 06, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Christopher Morel Puts the Cubs Back On Top

It's a game of homers so far, with Seiya Suzuki's two-run shot getting it started, then Elly De La Cruz's three-run homer giving the Reds the lead, and now Christopher Morel's two-run shot taking it back. That's a dozen on...

Brett Taylor

Jun 06, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Nick Madrigal Broke His Hand In His First Game At Triple-A Iowa

[ankin_law] Whether you felt he should be sent back down to Triple-A Iowa or not, and whatever you think of his future role with the Chicago Cubs, I don't think you can feel anything but bad about what happened to...

Brett Taylor

Jun 06, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Big Night for the Cubs’ Top Two 2023 Pitching Draft Picks, Will Sanders and Jaxon Wiggins

Last year, the Chicago Cubs selected just two pitchers in their first nine picks in the MLB Draft. In the second round, they took Arkansas righty Jaxon Wiggins, and in the fourth round, they took South Carolina righty Will Sanders....

Brett Taylor

Jun 07, 2024

MLB

Baltimore Orioles 1st Round Mock Draft: Exploring Potential Picks

The Baltimore Orioles, following a strong 2023 season, are set to make their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft with the 22nd overall pick. As the team looks to bolster their farm system and secure talent for the future,...

Patrick K. Flowers

Jun 07, 2024

How to Watch

Phillies vs. Mets: Free Live Stream, TV Channel, How to Watch

The Philadelphia Phillies (44-19), with Ranger Suarez on the mound, visit the New York Mets (27-35) who will start Sean Manaea, at 1:10 PM ET on Saturday.Keep reading to find out how to watch the Philadelphia-New York matchup below.When is...

Data Skrive

Jun 07, 2024

MLB

Atlanta Braves 1st Round Mock Draft: Exploring Potential Picks

The Atlanta Braves, following a strong 2023 season, are set to make their first-round selection in the 2024 MLB Draft with the 24th overall pick. As the team looks to bolster their farm system and secure talent for the future,...

Patrick K. Flowers

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Cubs Roster Moves: Wicks Returns, Hodge to Iowa

Brett Taylor

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Bears

Caleb Williams Has High Hopes For the Bears: “We’re Gonna Be Pretty Damn Good”

'Tis the season for endless optimism. And when it is coming from QB1, you know I'm going to re-share it. "There's a light at the end of that tunnel," said Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, via the Chicago Sun-Times. "Right...

Luis C. Medina

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Blackhawks

Blackhawks GM Kyle Davidson Talks Draft, Patrick Kane, Jake Guentzel, More

Chicago Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson spoke with the media at the Scouting Combine in Buffalo on Friday afternoon and addressed -- or didn't -- a wide range of topics, from trading up already to the possibility of trading the...

Tab Bamford

Jun 07, 2024

Picks

Saturday’s MLB Computer Picks & Best Bets – June 8

The Los Angeles Dodgers versus the New York Yankees is a game to see on a Saturday MLB schedule that has 15 competitive matchups. Looking for best bets? You're in luck.MLB picks todayPhiladelphia Phillies at New York MetsGame infoWhen: 1:10...

Data Skrive

Jun 07, 2024

NBA

Miami Heat Mock Draft: Heat Turn 2 Picks Into Unique Star & Starter

In the upcoming 2024 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat are poised to make strategic moves with their two picks, the 15th overall and the 43rd overall. This Miami Heat Mock Draft is designed to target the best talent available while...

Connor Allen

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Bears

Around the NFL: Colts Center Doesn’t Hold Back on 18-Game Schedule, Jacobs Apologizes, Gregory Sues, More

NFL Notes — Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly didn't mince words when asked about the NFL's proposal to eventually add an 18th regular-season game to the schedule. Colts Center to Roger Goodell on the 18-game Schedule: "Put a helmet on...

Patrick K. Flowers

Jun 07, 2024

Chicago Cubs

Chicago Cubs Lineup: Nico Hoerner Out

Michael Cerami

Jun 07, 2024

MLBits: Still No Deals for Keuchel/Kimbrel, Giants President Suspended, Award Winners, Mets, Padres, More

Read More

more cubs news

Latest News

more cubs news

Most Popular

Most Popular

Latest News

Most Popular

Most Popular